This is the President's house in Washington. George Washington was the one who selected the place in 1792. He died just a little while after it was completed. John Adams was the first president to live in it, in 1800. In 1814, the British burned the house, and only the walls were left standing. The house was rebuilt and the stone was painted white to cover the stains from the fire. Thus the building has the name "White House." It is the home of the President and his family. The President's office is in this building also. The Flag is never raised over the White House when the President is away.

63

LESSON 13.—ARTICLE II, SECTION 1.

Article II. The Executive, or Law-Enforcing Branch of the

Section 1 is about the office of the PRESIDENT.

The President is the chief executive or head of the United States. He holds office for four years. The Vice President is elected at the same time and for the same number of years.

"Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in A President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same Term, be elected as follows: "

The President of the United States is elected by the people through electors. Each State has as many electors as it has Senators and Representatives. No Senator or Representative, nor any other person in the employ of the Government, may be an elector while he is in office.

Paragraph 2. "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State

may be entitled in the Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector."

HOW THE PRESIDENT IS ELECTED.

The first way in which the electors chose a President and Vice President was changed in 1804 by Amendment XII. Since that time the following has been the method:

The people in each State elect their electors. When the electors of each State meet in the capital of their State and vote separately for President and Vice President, they send their vote to the President of the Senate. He opens and counts these votes before the Senate and House of Representatives, assembled together. The one who receives the majority of the votes is declared President. If no one receives a majority, or there is a tie, the House of Representatives elects a President from the three highest. If the House of Representatives does not elect a President by March 4 after the election, the Vice President becomes President.

The Vice President is elected by the same electors. If no person receives a majority, the Senate elects a Vice President.

The Vice President must be fitted to take the office of President.

THE OLD WAY.

Paragraph 3. “The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two per

24895°-21- -5

sons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote: A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members, from two-thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall choose from them by Ballot the Vice-President."

THE PRESENT WAY (RATIFIED IN 1804).

66

Amendment XII. The Electors shall meet in their respective States and vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;The President of the Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representations from each State having one vote: a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice